Feasibility pilot of ASPIRE in two secondary schools in Liverpool
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adolescent Self-harm Psychotherapy to Improve Relational Expertise (ASPIRE) A pilot study to test the feasibility, acceptability and safety of a brief, self-harm specific psychotherapeutic intervention to support Children and Young People (CYP) in Liverpool with self-harm behaviours.
IRAS ID
329439
Contact name
Elizabeth Perkins
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
Self-harm is defined as self-poisoning or self-injury, regardless of purpose. 7% of girls and 4% of boys aged 11- 16 and 20% of girls and 10% of boys aged 17-19 engage in self-harm. CYP who self-harm are more likely to suffer physical/mental ill-heath and are fifty times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Emergency Department (ED) attendances for self-harm are estimated to cost £129 million annually. CYP who live in more deprived communities, such as Liverpool, are more likely to self-harm.
Few interventions exist that specifically address self-harm. Current interventions are often provided by clinical psychologists/psychiatrists and span 12-weeks to 1-year. There are significant waiting lists for these interventions, meaning that CYP can wait a long time to access support.
Adolescent Self-Harm Psychotherapy to Improve Relational Expertise’ (ASPIRE) is a manualised, 5 session plus follow-up, self-harm specific intervention provided by trained therapists within 2- weeks of referral. The ASPIRE therapy has been successfully piloted in an Emergency Department, General Practices and University Counselling Services in Liverpool, with people aged 16 or older.
This project will embed ASPIRE into existing mental health services in two secondary schools in Liverpool, within the ‘Whole School Approach’ framework. ASPIRE will be delivered by trained Young Persons Advisory Service (YPAS) Wellbeing Practitioners (WPs). YPAS currently provide mental health services in Liverpool schools. Up to 15 eligible pupils will choose to receive ASPIRE in school or in YPAS premises near to school. Access to ASPIRE will be via self-referral or referral by a parent/carer/school staff. We will ask CYP to complete outcome measures before, during and following the intervention and seek their views about doing so in terms of safety, distress and burden. YPAS WPs will complete in-session measures. CYP/parents/carers/school staff views about their participation in ASPIRE will also be sought.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0274
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion